Is AI being introduced into the workplace faster than employers can prepare their employees to use it effectively?
new research from resume now announced some surprising results that security experts across the country should take note of.
According to the report, some of the key insights are:
- “Workers need to understand AI themselves. 41% of workers say their employer does not provide them with any tools, training or guidance to enable them to use AI in the workplace.
- AI direction is insufficient. Only 21% of workers say their employer provides clear AI guidelines with specific use cases for their role.
- Minimal AI access. 52% of workers say their employer does not provide AI tools for work-related uses or only provides free or publicly available AI tools.
- For most people, formal AI training is lacking. Only 19% of workers say their employer dedicates time and resources to providing comprehensive AI training.
- BYO AI is already popular. 76% of workers have used an AI tool they personally discovered and signed up for to complete a job.
Resume Keith Spencer, career expert at Now, said: “While BYO on AI is a sign that workers are trying to catch up, it also shows where employers are falling behind. Employees need more than encouragement to experiment with AI; they need access to approved tools, AI skills, and more. They need dedicated time to build and clear guidance on how to leverage AI in real-world roles. Without that structure, AI implementation will become fragmented and difficult to manage, undermining the efficiency, operational improvements, and profitability gains that employers want to achieve.”
Digging deeper into the results of these reports, it appears that employees are often receiving mixed signals from management regarding the use of AI.
- “16% said they were provided little or no guidance.
- 5% say messaging about how and when to use AI is inconsistent or unclear.
- 4% say the use of AI is encouraged or restricted.
- 26% say their employer provides general guidance, but not guidance specific to their role.
- 21% say their employer provides clear guidelines with specific use cases for their role.
- 28% say they do not use AI at work. ”
Employees are bringing their own AI to the workplace
With employers slow to provide support, workers are taking matters into their own hands. More than three out of four workers use an AI tool they discover and register themselves to complete their work, rather than one provided or approved by their employer. The findings show that “BYO AI” is already running the modern workplace as part of many employees.
- “23% use personally sourced AI tools every day.
- 20% use it several times a week.
- 17% use it sometimes.
- 16% rarely use it.
- 24% never use personally procured AI tools in their work. ”
Interestingly, the BYOAI trend was one of the top predictions for 2025 as part of “Top 25 Security Predictions for 2025 (Part 1)” in December 2024.
When you juxtapose this trend in AI usage with the shadow AI trend that I’ve written about many times since early 2024, the data security challenges for enterprises become very serious.
In addition, fast company We discussed this trend last fall and compared it very negatively to the previous Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend.
“A few months ago, I warned about ‘shadow AI,’ where employees are moving faster than the company, using AI without permission or training, and managers pretend not to notice. The right response wasn’t a ban, but better education and governance. That was just the first signal of something much bigger: BYOA or BYOAI, or ‘bring your own algorithms’ or ‘bring your own AI.'” This trend is everywhere now. While employees are incorporating their own agents into their daily workflows, companies are rushing to increase their after-the-fact management. Comparisons to old BYOD are misleading. This is not about carrying around a device, but introducing a cognitive layer that decides, reasons, and learns with us. Now, recent evidence has made this gap even harder to ignore. ”
Watch this video to learn more about the pros and cons of BYOAI.
AI embedded in mobile devices and wearables
As Apple’s iPhones, Android smartphones, and new wearable AI products begin to flood the market, another big question will arise. How do these devices and data interact (or not) with corporate networks and personal data?
While some are already proclaiming that “the enterprise AI gold rush is over and most companies are not ready for what comes next,” other employees are just starting to incorporate AI into more parts of their lives. The impact is significant, blurring work and home life.
final thoughts
So what can security professionals do about BYOAI given this new normal in 2026?
The answer starts with increased visibility and knowing what’s happening with the use of AI on your network. This previous article covered many of the frequently asked questions and some of their answers.
This video also provides useful AI security tips in this area.
